Innovation 4 Learning tackles the causes of plagiarism

24 February 06

Plagiarism is a hot topic in education at the moment. Whether it's University students buying their essays from the Internet, or parents of GCSE students being 'over helpful' with coursework, it's a problem which seems to be getting worse if the Media are to be believed. Many Universities are now taking measures to improve the detection of plagiarism, for instance through the use of automated checking software, but this amounts to dealing with the symptoms rather than the illness itself. Often students accused of plagiarism by their tutor will come out with the excuse "But I didn't know it was wrong!" - and they may have a point.

Now the Innovation 4 Learning team at the University of Derby believe they have the answer: PLATO, or Plagiarism Teaching Online. PLATO is an e-learning product intended primarily for 'A' level students and undergraduates which provides interactive tutorials covering referencing and what constitutes plagiarism. It makes no assumptions about prior knowledge and engages the student through a highly visual approach. PLATO is available for purchase by Universities, schools, colleges, and individuals.

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I4L exhibited successfully at the massive BETT 2006 educational technology show at London's Olympia last week. I4L sell e-learning products directly to schools and colleges under the brand Derby 14-19. Among the products on show were the Bioscope virtual microscope developed by I4L and published by Cambridge Hitachi. Bioscope is a full functioning microscope designed to support Biology 'A' and 'AS' level syllabuses and includes large botanical and zoological slidesets. Shortlisted for a BETT Show Science, Bioscope impressed teachers who stopped by on the stand with its combination of powerful features and ease-of-use.

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